A new covered viewing platform is being built at Minden Lookout to replace the original structure, which was removed last year due to safety concerns.
The popular sightseeing location near the corner of Minden and Junction Rds is 286m above sea level and has panoramic views over Tauranga, Mount Maunganuiand Matakana Island.
The new single-storey structure was being built around the existing stone plinth and viewing dial and was to be finished by the end of January.
It was designed to meet modern building code requirements, and one of its key differences from the original timber platform would be its steel roof beams.
Under the Kaimai Reserve Management Plan 2025, the council committed to working with mana whenua to include heritage information at the lookout site.
The original two-storey lookout structure was built in 1977 by the Ōmokoroa Te Puna Lions Club, now the Bethlehem Te Puna Lions Club, and was handed over to the Tauranga County Council in October 1978.
The platform was closed in March 2023 for a structural investigation and removed in early 2024 after it was deemed unsafe.
A plan showing the Minden Lookout rebuild. Image / Supplied
Bethlehem Te Puna Lions Club was involved in the design process for the new $220,000 structure, which was being funded from the Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Facilities and Reserves Asset Renewal Fund.
Council reserves and facilities manager Peter Watson said the council had worked closely with the Bethlehem Te Puna Lions Club to make sure the new design met modern safety standards while respecting the history of the “much-loved community facility”.
“Minden Lookout is a popular spot for both locals and visitors. The new platform means everyone can continue to enjoy the panoramic views safely.”
Ron Stephens of the Bethlehem Te Puna Lions Club said the original platform was designed to benefit the whole community, providing a comprehensive view of the Bay of Plenty.
The club raised $6650 and received $2850 in donations to build the structure, and the Tauranga Electric Power Board shifted the power lines so they would not interfere with the view.
There was also a donation box on-site, which raised hundreds of dollars for what was then the Royal Foundation for the Blind.
“Since its completion, many families and tours have used the lookout to show off the Bay of Plenty,” Stephens said.
“It served the community well for a long time, and it’s great to see a new platform taking its place.
“It carries on what the club set out to do all those years ago, and wonderful to know this special view will continue to be enjoyed by future generations.”
